Today

1 9 5 2 – Current (USA)

Today debuted on 14 January 1952 and was the first of its genre on American television in the world. Originally hosted by Dave Garroway, Today was received coolly by the critics at first (it suffered, initially, from an overdose of gadgetry), but settled down to become one of the most commercially successful programs in the history of the medium.

A potpourri of news, interviews, time-and-weather checks, guest performances, and conversation, the show beat back all competitive efforts to curb its dominance of the early-morning hours.

In 1953, the network decided to introduce animal co-host J Fred Muggs, a cheeky chimpanzee in a nappy, who played around on set and probably annoyed the (human) hosts immensely. When American children heard that they could see a live chimp on this new-fangled television, they persuaded their parents to buy sets, so sales, as well as ratings, went up.

Muggs lasted until 1957 and was then replaced by another chimp, called Kokomo Jr, who stayed until 1959.

Originally a two-hour program on weekdays, Today expanded to Sundays in 1987 and Saturdays in 1992. The weekday broadcast expanded to three hours in 2000, and to four hours in 2007.

Barbara Walters was hired as a Today writer and researcher in 1961, making her first appearance that August with a segment on the Paris fashion show. She was appointed as a reporter in October 1964 and became the show’s first female co-anchor upon Frank McGee’s death in April 1974.

Anchors
Dave Garroway (1952 – 1961)
John Chancellor (1961 – 1962)
Hugh Downs (1962 – 1971)
Barbara Walters (1961 – 1976)
Frank McGee (1971– 1974)
Jim Hartz (1974 – 1976)
Tom Brokaw (1976 – 1981)
Jane Pauley (1976 – 1989)
Bryant Gumbel (1982 – 1997)
Deborah Norville (1990 – 1991)
Katie Couric (1991 – 2006)
Meredith Vieira (2006 – 2011)
Ann Curry (2011 – 2012)
Matt Lauer (1997 – Current)
Savannah Guthrie (2012 – Current)

News Anchors
Merrill Mueller (1953)
Frank Blair (1953 – 1975)
Lew Wood (1975 – 1976)
Floyd Kalber (1976 – 1979)
Tony Guida (1979)
Tom Brokaw/Jane Pauley (1979 – 1981)
Chris Wallace/Jane Pauley (1982)
John Palmer (1982 – 1989)
Deborah Norville (1989)
Faith Daniels (1990 – 1992)
Margaret Larson (1992 – 1994)
Matt Lauer (1994 – 1997)
Ann Curry (1997 – 2011)
Natalie Morales (2011 – Current)